Pool rack and spotter



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

0. H. FUCHS. POOL BACK AND SPOTTBR. No. 479,213, Patented July 19, 1892.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. H. FUCHS.

POOL BACK AND SPOTTER. No. 479,213. Patented July 19, 1892.

balls.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CHARLES II. FUCHS, OF TIFFIN, OHIO.

POOL RACK AND SPOTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,213, dated July 19, 1892.

Application filed March 31, 1892.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. FUoHs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tiffin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool Racks and Spotters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pool racks and spotters; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction of a frame having a spiral runway or rack formed therein and a spotter-frame formed at the base, into which said runway discharges, with movable stops in said runway to divide the same into compartments, these stops extending below the base of the frame and adapted to be automatically removed from across the runways when the frame is lowered upon the table.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction of the spotter-frame, and, further, in the peculiar construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts, all as more fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of my invention, showing it suspended above a billiard-table ready to receive the Fig. 2 is a horizontal section thereof on line a; a3. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section thereof on line y y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached plan View of the spotter-frame, showing the balls therein. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the frame lifted to stop the balls.

The frame of my device consists of four standards A arranged ninety degrees apart and connected at the top by the curved arms 13, secured to a central apertured head 0. These standards have formed in them a series of loops or eyes D of a suitable size to allow a pool-ball to pass freely therethrough, and these loops are spirallyarranged in the different standards and are connected by means of a spiral way formed by the two wires a b, secured on the inner faces of these loops in lugs c, as plainly shown in Fig. 3. At the lower end these standards are provided with the downwardly and inwardly projecting fingers E, which support the spotterframe of the usual triangular shape located centrally within the main frame of the de- Serial No. 427,179. (No model.)

vice and forming the base thereof. This spotter-frame consists of two triangular-shaped wires d e, the upper one inclosing a larger area than the lower one and the lower one being of an area equal exactly to the triangle in which the balls are formed when they are spotted. The spiral way in the frame is divided into compartments or sections by means of movable stops f, which are con nected to a sliding bar g. This bar is secured to the frame by means of the pin h, sliding in the slot 7., and has the footj extending normally below the bottom of the frame, in which position the stops will be arranged to cross the runway. These sliding frames are preferably arranged upon the opposite standards, dividing each circle of the spiral way into two sections, which are suitablynumbered by means of plates 70, cast integral with the standards. This frame being suspended with the point of the spotter upon the pointin the pool-table upon which the head ball is desired to be spotted and having the pool-balls placed in the frame, the operator lowers the device until the spotter-frame rests upon the table. In the downward movement the feet j will strike the table and be lifted up, with drawing the stops f from across the runway, allowing the balls to pass freely downward, being discharged by the inwardly-extending spout Z into the spotter-frame. In this position,the lower frame d resting upon the table, the balls will fall loosely into the inclosure in the upper frame, as shown in Fig. at. Now, in order toform them into the compact triangle the operator raises the frame, and the lower frame impinging against the lower side of the balls will force them inward into such compact shape, as shown in Fig. 5.

Any suitable device may be employed for raising and lowering the frame. That which I have shown consists of the supporting-rod F, slidingly engaging in the tube G, supported from the bracket H. This bracket has the sheaves I, over which pass the cords J, secured at one end to a weight K and at the other end to the rod F.

M is a cord passing over the sheaves N N and extending down to a handle 0 in convenient proximity to the operator. This cord at the lower end is connected to the weight K, also constructed that when the operator pulls on the handle 0 he will raise the weight K, allowing the frame to drop.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. A pool-rack consisting of a seriesof standards having a series of loops thereon, a spiral way passing through the loops, a series of movable stops normally in the way, means for moving the stops, and a spotter at the base of the way, formed of different-sized frames, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a rack, standards having a series of loops therein, a spiral runway connecting said loops and ending at the base in an inwardly-extending spout, a series of movable stops dividing it into sections, a series of inwardly-extending fingers at the base of the standard, and a spotter-frame secured to said fingers, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a rack formed of four standards having a vertical series of radially arranged loops formed therein, a spiral runway formed through said loops by wire secured on opposite sides thereof, and a series of movable stops in said runway dividing it into sections, substantially as described.

4. The combination of a track formed of standards having a vertical series of radiallyarranged loops formed therein, a spiral runway formed through saidloops and discharging inwardly at the base, a series of movable stops dividing said runway into sections, and a spotter-frame within said track at the base, composed of two separated Wire triangles, the upper one being of the greater area, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. FUCHS. Witnesses:

N. L. LINDOP, MJB. ODoGHERrY. 

